[Text by Pamela Goddard; from the Ithaca Times, Jan. 23, 2008]
Mambazo, in the Zulu language, means “powerful axe.” For over 40 years, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been cutting through challenges to bring unity and joy to the world. On Friday, Jan. 25, the heat and rhythm of South African music will thaw the mid-winter of Ithaca’s heart.
Celebrate with Ladysmith Black Mambazo as they pay tribute to the first king of the Zulu nation, Shaka Zulu. In the late 1700s, the Zulus were an obscure tribe of less than 2,000, seemingly doomed to eventual extinction. The path of South African history changed forever when one charismatic and cunning warrior, Shaka Zulu, emerged from this clan. Within two decades, Shaka united the Zulus into a single powerful force that helped give birth to a proud nation.
Today, Shaka Zulu is regarded as one of the greatest leaders in African history and revered as the figure who gave birth to the indomitable fighting Zulu spirit.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo pay tribute to this cultural icon with their new recording, Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu. The songs celebrate Shaka Zulu’s sense of perseverance, creativity, and pride that has inspired generations of descendants.
“He was a warrior, an athlete, a singer, a dancer, a visionary, he was so many things,” says Joseph Shabalala, lead singer and founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Ilembe translates to “The greatest warrior.” Directly and indirectly, each song expresses Shaka’s rare combination of attributes and how they resonate in contemporary society — not just for South Africans, but for the world in general. The group sings about the inherent benefits of people coming together and working in unison for the greater good.
“This project came about because people still need inspiration,” says Albert Mazibuko, a member of Mambazo since 1964. “Shaka’s life was a great inspiration to everyone. My father used to tell me about his life. Shaka was raised by a single parent but he never used that as an excuse. He rose to great perfection.”
Songs such as “Kuyafundw Osizini” (”Learning from the Obstacles”) emphasize the importance of confronting obstacles, overcoming them and learning from the experience. Other songs acknowledge the dirty side of the political process, but encourage people to rise above petty squabbles to accomplish great things.
“Hlala Nami” (”Stay with me”) stresses the importance of staying with those people who will keep you on the right path, while “Prince of Peace” bridges the seemingly disparate elements of Zulu history and Christian tradition.
“By naming this in his name, we’re trying to bring out the best in each person,” says Mazibuko. He believes that the Zulu spirit and the Christian spirit work perfectly together.
“Someone who follows the Zulu culture, it is the same as a Christian. In our culture, Zulu culture, we believe in respect,” he says. “We respect our elders, respect each other. We believe in people doing the right thing, just like, ‘love your neighbor like yourself.’ We believe that you’re gonna reap what you sow.
It was just the way we grew up so it goes together.”
Joseph Shabalala created Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1964 after a series of dreams he had in which he heard the traditional harmonies of the Zulu people.
Later, he combined these intricate rhythms and harmonies with the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music.
“With the first album, listeners thought that we were people who had risen from the dead,” Mazibuko says. “Our aim was to encourage people, especially in South Africa. “People there had lost hope in themselves. They never believed that what they’ve got is beautiful. We wanted to sing traditional music, lift the standard and make it better, to show that people can achieve what they want. When we performed, people started to believe. When they were struggling for their freedom, they were using our songs. Even people in jail. We learned from Mr. Mandala that he was listening to our music and it gave him hope.”
The magic of Ladysmith Black Mambazo continues to bring people together. “I want to let people know that they will be singing with me. The audience will be my choir,” Mazibuko says. “We want to be one family when we’re in concert. We believe that people are weaker when they’re separate but together we’re strong.”
Albert Mazibuko sees a bright future for Ladysmith Black Mambazo. “With new members, everything has become easier for the old members,” he says.
“We give a lot of the creative process to new members. Mambazo will be around forever.”
Experience Ladysmith Black Mambazo live at State Theatre, 111 West State St., Friday, Jan. 25 at 8:00pm. Tickets are $29.50. For more information or tickets call 607-27-STATE or go online to stateofithaca.com.